When it comes to sex, who do teens trust more? Parents or friends?

This might surprise you . . . but it’s their parents.  In a national online study, researchers from the University of Montreal found that 45% of teenagers consider their parents to be their sexuality role model, compared with 32% who looked to their friends.  Another 15% named celebrities as their sexual role model.

Interestingly, 78% of the mothers who participated in the study believed that their children modeled their friends’ sexual behavior.  Co-author Dr. Jean Frappier said this means that “parents seem to underestimate their role and the impact they have.”  Frappier added: “Health professionals and the media have an important role to play in empowering parents and enabling them to increase their communications with their children with regards to sexual health issues.”

According to a press release from the University of Montreal, “the survey also revealed that many of the teenagers who look to their parents live in families where sexuality is openly discussed, and that moreover, teenagers in these families have a greater awareness of the risks and consequences of sexually transmitted infections.” Added Frappier: “Good communication within families and especially around sexual health issues is associated with more responsible behaviours.” 

The survey involved 1,139 mothers of teenagers and 1,171 youths between 14 and 17 years old.